Recently, while with a group of younger friends, the conversation turned to the idea of downsizing. Apparently, downsizing has evolved from a life event worthy of consideration to an event that should be expected and assumed. Everyone in the group predicted that they would make that step one day, the only question was when.
Since we have jumped that hurdle twice and are now in half the square-footage that we had back East, we were pressed for an answer to that question. When is it the right time?
The question made me remember the response made by a sage old gentleman many years back. His answer was, “Be certain to make your move while you can still remember where the silverware drawer is.”
At first, that thought sounded strange. Then, one morning while I was standing in my own kitchen after weeks of extensive overseas travel, I went to reach for a spoon and had no idea where to look. The third drawer I tried held the prize, but the prior two made me realize how long I had been away.
So many of the little things in our lives we do on automatic pilot. That built-in knowledge base helps us to be more efficient and do many things at once. A downsizing move should be made while you can still train that auto-pilot. The transition to a new, smaller nest is never easy. But if you make it in time to adapt to a new silverware drawer, you should be able to gracefully manage all the other aspects of the transition as well.
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